SB 1489 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

Summary
Requires the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1489 SB1489_SD1 · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends the residency rules for University of Hawaii tuition, clarifying that high school graduates qualify if they meet standard residency requirements, are not claimed as dependents by nonresident parents, and enroll in an undergraduate degree program. The primary substantive change is the addition of a specific effective date of July 31, 2050, replacing the previous provision for immediate approval.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on simplifying residency determinations for Hawaii high school graduates seeking undergraduate tuition, but the effective date is now set for the distant future.
TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from 'upon approval' to 'July 31, 2050'.

ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility criteria were restructured to explicitly require that students must both graduate from a Hawaii high school and enroll in an undergraduate degree program to qualify for resident tuition.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and spacing adjustments were made to the bill text and header information.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
upper
Feb 14, 2025
Committee
Reported from HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 521) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 3:10PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to HRE, WAM.
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and passed First Reading.
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
Pending Introduction.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Ron Kouchi
Ron Kouchi
DDemocratic
HI
8